Title: Chemistry
Publisher: Addison-Wesley
Date of Publication: 2002
Author: Antony Wilbraham, Dennis Staley, Michael Matta, Edward Waterman
Specific Subject: Mole-mass relationships
Grade: 9-11
Age: 15-18
Chapter Title: Chemical Quantities

Understanding a Learning Goal or Standard

Statement of Learning Goal or Standard

PS2 (Ext)-6
Students demonstrate an understanding of physical, chemical, and nuclear changes by...
6aa-using chemical equations and information about molar masses to predict quantitatively the masses of reactants and products in chemical reactions.

What Does This Learning Goal Mean?

• Molar masses
• Balancing equations
• Atoms have different masses
• Stoichiometry (conversion factors)
• Unit conversions
• Parts of a chemical Equation

What Do Students Need to Understand Before They Can Address This Learning Goal?

• Simple division/multiplication
• Concept of the mole (not a set weight but a set number)
• Predicting a reaction direction
• How to utilize the periodic table
• Chemical symbols
• Balancing charges
• Basic mathematics
• Difference between physical/chemical changes

What (Mis)Understandings Might Students Have Related to This Learning Goal?

• Molar mass and mass are not the same thing
• Conversion factors must be used
• When converting from/to atoms moles must be used (can't go through grams)
• Matter can never be created nor destroyed

(Lesson plan based on this learning goal)